What’s up with Tesla?
Haters gonna hate! Despite posting record quarterly revenue, Tesla's shares fell 4% as margins shrank, and no details for the Cybertruck and a robotaxi-ready vehicle were provided.
Elon gonna Elon? Musk remains optimistic about the company's AI, including progress in self-driving technology and humanoid robots. He hinted at potential licensing of Tesla's FSD technology to a major automaker and plans to invest over $1 billion in their AI supercomputer, Dojo.
Minor setback. Musk seems to believe sacrificing short-term profitability will pay off when FSD is fully integrated. While more automakers, including Nissan, adopt Tesla charging tech, no matter what happens, Tesla will be part of the electrification conversation as long as batteries and wires.
What’s up with Ford?
What? Canadian auto parts manufacturer Magna International Inc will invest $790 million to build three factories to produce parts for Ford's electric truck.
Where? Two facilities, manufacturing battery enclosures, polyurethane foam, and seats, will be located at Ford's BlueOval City campus in Tennessee. A third facility, producing vehicle frames, will be based in Lawrenceburg.
Who? This investment will create up to 1,300 jobs by 2025.
Wanna make a battery bug?
A $2,000 kit from China's Alibaba converts a 65'-75' VW Beetle into an EV. The kit includes a 15 kW electric motor, electronic speed controller, and digital dashboard. Notably, it does NOT include the 96V battery.
Why so specific? Older air-cooled vehicles are ideal for electric conversion thanks to their massive engine compartments. The VW bug is specifically ideal because its engine is in the back, granting the proud new owner access to a range of cliches about "junk in the trunk."